GROSSO SPARKLES AT NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY’S FIRECRACKER 40

GROSSO SPARKLES AT NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY’S FIRECRACKER 40

Story By: Mike Wisniewski/New Egypt Speedway

Photos By: Ted Malinowski & Dave Kovacs/RacersGuide.com

New Egypt, NJ (July 8, 2018) – At New Egypt Speedway’s Firecracker 40
presented by Pakenham Motorsports, Brandon Grosso scored the win in the
Modified feature. Eddie Strada took the checkered flag in the USAC East
Coast Wingless Sprint Car main event. The Crate Modified feature was won by
Connor King. Joe Garey, Jr. scored the victory in the 4-Cylinder race.

After two cautions, the Firecracker 40 for the Modifieds got underway with
Rich Rutski in front and Ryan Godown next in line. On lap three, the yellow
lights illuminated for PJ Oliver. When the green flag waved, Godown raced
past Rutski to gain the lead with TJ Lilly riding in third. Following a
fourth tour caution period for Billy Pauch, Jr., Godown remained in command
as Lilly edged into the runner-up position. At the quarter mark of the
event, Godown was pulling away from the field with Brandon Grosso motoring
into second place from his eleventh place starting spot. David VanHorn, who
started in twelfth, continued his march forward by advancing into third with
twelve laps completed. On the thirteenth circuit, Godown’s comfortable edge
evaporated as the yellow flag waved for Kevin Vaclavicek. Following two
restarts that misfired, action resumed with Godown holding off Grosso and
VanHorn to maintain his lead. Grosso methodically reeled in Godown and the
two began to duel for the lead as the contest reached the halfway point.
After a good battle for first place, Grosso slipped by Godown to take over
the front running spot on lap twenty-two. One tour later, a slowing Davey
Sammons stopped the action on the track. At this point, a fuel stop took
place due to the amount of total laps run under green and yellow flag
conditions. Following the brief break in the action, Grosso repelled a
challenge by Godown to keep his lead with VanHorn, Ryan Krachun and John
McClelland in tow. Grosso began to pull away from his rivals. With ten laps
to go, Grosso had built up a large margin over Godown. Through the final
tours, Grosso kept his advantage to register his first win of the year and
his second career victory in the Modified ranks at New Egypt Speedway. With
Godown crossing the line in second, VanHorn completed the race in third.
Krachun held off McClelland to finish fourth. Rich Rutski, Ryan Godown and
Danny Bouc won the Modified heat races.

Eddie Strada survived a last lap restart to win the 30-lap main event for
the East Coast Wingless Sprint Cars. Trevor Kobylarz paced the pack for the
opening three tours. On the fourth lap, Steve Drevicki took over. Strada,
who started the race in fifth, moved into second with five laps completed.
After a good battle for the lead, Strada sped past Drevicki on lap eleven to
gain the lead. Over the final third of the event, Strada would fend off the
challenges of Drevicki including a final circuit restart to gain the
victory. Behind Drevicki, Chandler Leiby was third. After an early race
caution, Ryan Godown roared back through the field to finish in fourth.
Fifth place was taken by Joey Biasi. The USAC East Coast Wingless qualifying
races went to Eddie Strada, Steve Drevicki and Ryan Godown.

In the 20-lap Crate Modified feature, Connor King collected his third
checkered flag of the season. Steve Desmelyk led the first two circuits
before Ryan Simmons grabbed the lead. The thirteenth place starting King
progressed to the front of the field on lap five and remained on top until
the completion of the race. Simmons held on for second place with Kyle Kania
finishing third. John Aumick and Jeremy Martino completed the top five.
Connor King and John Aumick were the victors in the Crate Modified heat
races.

Following a caution on the third circuit of the 15-lap 4-Cylinder race, Joe
Garey, Jr. passed his father and kept ahead of the pack to win his second
race of the season. Joe Garey, Sr. was second with third going to Robby
Dunn. Newcomer JC Duvall came home in fourth and fifth went to Tom Stavola.

On Saturday, July 14, Premio Foods Little League Night takes place at New
Egypt Speedway. On the track, the Modifieds, Hammer Sportsman, Street Stocks
& the 4-Cylinders will be in competition. All Little Leaguers in uniform
will be admitted to the grandstand for free. There will be a sausage eating
contest held during intermission for those 18 years of age or older. In
addition, ‘Buy One, Get One Sausage Sandwiches’ will be available throughout
the night courtesy of Premio Foods. The pit gates unlock at 4:00 p.m. and
the spectator ticket windows open at 5:00 p.m. Hot laps crank up 6:00 p.m.
with racing getting underway at 7:00 p.m. Admission to the grandstand is $20
for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for teens 12-15, $10 for
military personal and their spouses with ID, and Kids 11 & under are FREE.
Pit admission is $30 with a New Egypt Speedway license and $40 with no
license.

New Egypt Speedway is located on Route 539 just minutes from Six Flags Great
Adventure and the New Jersey Turnpike. A racy 7/16-mile D-shaped dirt oval,
New Egypt Speedway serves Garden State race fans with some of the best
competition in the country. New Egypt’s state-of-the-art facilities feature
daylight-quality lighting and excellent sightlines from any seat in the
house. The grandstands are fully wheelchair accessible with wide, clear,
and well-groomed walkways. Concession facilities serve up everything from
Jersey Burgers to ice cream treats at family-friendly prices.

For more information, visit online: www.newegyptspeedway.net, “Like” us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/newegyptspeedwayofficial, or follow us on
Twitter @nesspeedway.

NEW EGYPT SPEEDWAY RESULTS – SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2018

Modifieds

Heat 1 – 1. Rich Rutski 2. Matt Stangle 3. Ryan Krachun 4. JR Fulper 5.
Brian Papiez 6. John McClelland

Heat 2 – 1. Ryan Godown 2. Brandon Grosso 3. Billy Pauch, Jr. 4. PJ Oliver
5. Rocco Infante 6. Tim Apgar

Heat 3 – 1. Danny Bouc 2. TJ Lilly 3. David VanHorn 4. Steve Davis 5. Davey
Sammons 6. Billy Osmun
MODIFIEDS – 40 LAPS FEATURE – FIRECRACKER 40

1. BRANDON GROSSO 2. Ryan Godown 3. David VanHorn 4. Ryan Krachun 5. John
McClelland 6. Rich Rutski 7. Brian Papiez 8. TJ Lilly 9. Rocco Infante 10.
Billy Pauch, Jr. 11. Danny Bouc 12. Billy Osmun 13. Kevin Vaclavicek 14. Tim
Apgar 15. Marty Resnick 16. Blaine Bracelin 17. Pat Wall 18. Davey Sammons
19. JR Fulper 20. Jim Bobbitt 21. PJ Oliver 22. Matt Stangle 23. Steve Davis
USAC East Coast Wingless Sprint Cars

Heat 1 – 1. Eddie Strada 2. Trevor Kobylarz 3. Eric Jennings 4. Jermain
Godshall 5. Brian Spencer

Heat 2 – 1. Steve Drevicki 2. Chandler Leiby 3. Heidi Hedin 4. Karl Freyer
5. Rich Mellor

Heat 3 – 1. Ryan Godown 2. Bill Unglert 3. Chris Allen, Jr. 4. Mark Bitner
5. Joey Biasi

DNQ: Larry Drake
USAC EAST COAST WINGLESS SPRINT CARS – 30 LAPS FEATURE

1. EDDIE STRADA 2. Steve Drevicki 3. Chandler Leiby 4. Ryan Godown 5. Joey
Biasi 6. Mark Bitner 7. Trevor Kobylarz 8. Heidi Hedin 9. Ryan Quackenbush
10. Rich Mellor 11. Jermain Godshall 12. Karl Freyer 13. Brian Riccio 14.
Eric Jennings 15. Brian Spencer 16. Duane Nixon 17. Chris Allen, Jr. 18. Al
Cheney 19. Jonathan Swanson 20. Bill Unglert

Crate Modifieds

Heat 1 – 1. Connor King 2. Rob Mancini 3. Ryan Simmons 4. Joe Toth 5. Johnny
Bangs 6. Tom Princiotta 7. Aaron Weaver

Heat 2 – 1. John Aumick 2. Kyle Kania 3. Steve Desmelyk 4. Eric Palmer 5.
John Criscione 6. Jeremy Martino 7. Kevin Borden, Jr.
CRATE MODIFIEDS – 20 LAPS FEATURE

1. CONNOR KING 2. Ryan Simmons 3. Kyle Kania 4. John Aumick 5. Jeremy
Martino 6. Tom Princiotta 7. George Gareis, Jr. 8. Joe Toth 9. Aaron Weaver
10. Johnny Bangs 11. Kevin Borden, Jr. 12. Steve Desmelyk 13. Rob Mancini
14. John Criscione 15. Eric Palmer 16. Matt Miller

DNS: Glenn McIntyre

4-CYLINDERS – 15 LAPS FEATURE

1. JOE GAREY, JR. 2. Joe Garey, Sr. 3. Robby Dunn 4. JC Duvall 5. Tom
Stavola 6. Brian Osborne 7. Neil Rutt 8. Ian Ashford